Latest revision as of 21:03, February 27, 2012

Life

Metropolitan Georgios was born on May 25,1949 in the village of Athienou, Larnaca District of Cyprus. He attended the Pancyprian Gymnasium in Nicosia, graduating in 1967. He continued his education in 1967 with the Chemistry Faculty of the University of Athens, studying chemistry on a scholarship from the Cyprus Scholarship State Foundation. He graduated in 1972. In 1976, he returned to the Theological Faculty of the University of Athens to study theology, graduating in 1980. After graduating he continued post-graduate studies in chemistry and theology in England.

In addition to his ecclesiastical duties, Archim. Georgios was a teacher of chemistry in the secondary school system of Cyprus. He was promoted to the position of assistant headmaster in 1993 and served as a member of a commission under the Ministry of Education charged with composition of a chemistry textbook.

After a confrontation with Turkish troops during a peace march in Cyprus during which he was arrested and ill treated, Archim. Georgios appealed, in 1989, to the European Council of Human Rights concerning Turkey's actions. His appeal resulted in a decision by the European Council condemning, for the first time, Turkey for violation of human rights in Cyprus and imposing a monetary fine.

In 1994, Archim. Georgios was named secretary of the Holy Synod of Cyprus. On April 24, 1996, Archim. Georgios was elected Bishop of Arsinoi by the Holy Synod of Cyprus. He was consecrated on May 26, 1996. Bp. Georgios was elected Metropolitan of Paphos on December 29, 2006.

In addition to representing the Church of Cyprus at various Pan-Orthodox conferences, Metr. Georgios serves a president of the bioethics and education committees of the Holy Synod.